DNYF goes 4-1 on Sun. to kick off season

Four winning teams shut out their opponents

Del Norte Youth Football opened its 2012 season with a bang on Sunday.

Four of DNYF’s five teams recorded victories against competition from Redwood Youth Football in Eureka and Eel River Valley Youth Football in Fortuna, all by shutout.

The Del Norte A Gold team recorded the biggest margin of victory on the day, defeating Eel River Valley Blue, 20-0, on Sunday morning at Fortuna High School. O.J. Calleja scored two touchdowns and Anthony Slaydon added one more.

“The boys did really, really well,” A Gold coach Ray Berry said. “I’m proud of all the kids. They came ready to play.”

That game was immediately followed by DNYF AA Gold, which ended up losing to Eel River Valley Blue by a score of 33-6. Cole Harper’s short touchdown run late in the game put Del Norte on the board.

“We played pretty good,” AA Gold coach Jesse Puente said. “We made a bunch of mental mistakes on offense and defense. This outcome is something we can learn from. Our kids will pull through.”

At St. Bernard’s Catholic High School in Eureka, the DNYF A White team defeated the Redwood A squad, 12-0. Kai Baugh had an 80-yard touchdown run for Del Norte, and Conner Long scampered 40 yards for another score.

“It was a good day,” AA Blue head coach Mark Thogmartin said. “We had one of our (players) injured early, and the team stepped up.”

The DNYF AAA team, last to play on the afternoon, defeated Redwood’s AAA team, 7-0. Chee Shorty scored the lone touchdown of the game for Del Norte in the second half.

Del Norte Youth Football resumes Sunday, Sept. 9, against teams from Eureka Junior League Football in Cutten, a town south of Eureka. DNYF A White plays at 8 a.m.; AA Blue, at 10 a.m.; A Gold, at noon; AA Gold, at 2 p.m.; and AAA, at 4 p.m.

Reach Robert Husseman at
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